Fruit basket

ABSTRACT

A basket having an integral handle formed from a single blank of paperboard is disclosed. The handle is cut from the bottom and side walls of the basket and is foldable into a position overlying the transverse centre line of the basket, portions of the handle interlock with reinforcing flaps at the sides of the basket to lock the basket in erected position.

lJrlited States Patent 91 1111 3,929,274

Akkerman Dec. 30, 1975 [5 FRUIT BASKET 2,723,027 11 1955 Guyer 229 52 B 3,688,969 9 1972 Gabarez 206/139 [75] Inventor: Allardus A. Akkerman, Calgary,

Canada Primary Examiner-William Price [73] Assignee. Domtar Limited, Montreal, Canada Asst-8mm Examiner Douglas Farrow 22 Filed; Sept 2 97 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-C. A. Rowley 21 Appl. No.: 507,754

57 ABSTRACT CL 229/52 229/1319 229/31 FS; A basket having an integral handle formed from a sin- 206H39 gle blank of paperboard is disclosed. The handle is cut Int. Cl. from the bottom and ide walls of the basket and is Field of Search 229/52 1 68 6, foldable into a position overlying the transverse centre 229/31 1:5;206/139 line of the basket, portions of the handle interlock with reinforcing flaps at the sides of the basket to lock References Cited the basket in erected position.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,662,684 12 1953 Robins 229 52 B 8 Chums 7 Drawmg guns US Patent Dec. 30, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,929,274

US. Patent Dec. 30, 1975 Sheet20f2 3,929,274

FRUIT BASKET FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a basket, more particularly the present invention relates to a basket formed from a foldable blank and incorporating an integral handle. I

Corrugated paperboard or the like is used to manu facture open-topped baskets with handles asexemplitied in Canadian Pat. No. 772,504, issued Nov. 28, 1967 to Johnson or Canadian Pat. Nos. 757,928 or 665,387 issued to Vesak on May' 2, I967 and June 18, I963 respectively. All of these patented structures require separate handlemembers that must be fitted to the formed basket.

Canadian Pat. No. 853,537 is'sued Oct. I3, 1970 to Kyle et al discloses an improvement on the earlier baskets in that it incorporates an integral handle member. This improvement resulted in a basket requiring considerably more board while providing an unsatisfactory handle structure having a width that inhibited access to the basket.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved basket structure incorporating an integral handle member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Broadly, the present invention relates 'to a basket having a bottom wall and side walls, a handle formed by a pair of lines of severence extending across said bottom wall andpart way up said side walls, with'opposite ends of said handle integrallyfoldably connected to respective of said side walls. The invention also relates to the blank from which the basket may beformed.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a basket structure wherein the handle is formed by a band extending across the bottom wall and partway up each of the side walls, each of the side walls is provided with a flap foldable relative to the side wall into a position substantially parallel to its respective side wall, the end walls of the basket include lateral flaps that extend between the side walls and the side wall flaps and are trapped in this position, the handle member eng ag'es in slots in the end wall flaps and in the side wall flaps to lock the basket in erected form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further features, objects and advantages will be evident from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank for forming the basket of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a first stage in setting up the basket;

'FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate subsequent stages;

FIG. 3a is a section on the line 3a-3a of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3b is a section on the line 3b-3b of FIG. 3a, and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a set up basket incorporating the present invention.

DESCRIPTIONVOF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS nectedvtheretoby fold lines 16 and 18 respectively. Top

walls 20 and 21 are connected one to each of the'walls 12 and 14 via fold'lines 22 and 24 respectively and to side wall flaps 25 and 26 via fold lines 28 and 30 respectively. Each of the flaps 25 and 26 has a central notch 32 formed in its free edge 34.

Also connected to the bottom wall 10, one at each end thereof, 'via fold'lines 36 and 38 respectively are end walls 40 and 42. Each of the end walls 40 and 42 is divided into a plurality of segments by means of pairs of sets of fold lines 44 and 46 which extend from the free edge 48 and 50 of the end walls 40 and 42 to the junctions between the fold line 16 and line 36 or 38 and between the fold line 18 and line 36 or 38 respectively. These sets of fold lines 44 and. 46 permit curving of the end walls 40 and 42 to simulate a conventional basket.

Connected to each of the end walls 40 and 42 via the outside fold lines 44a and 46a of the fold line sets 44 and 46 respectively are pairs of end flaps 51 and 52. Each of these end flaps 51 and 52 is provided with a notch 54 which in the illustrated arrangement is substantially semi-circular. I

A handle member 56 is defined in the bottom panel 10 and side wall panels 12 and 14 by a pair of spaced lines of severence 58 and 60 symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the transverse centre line of the basket. It will be noted that the lines 58 and 60 extend substantially parallel to each other across the bottom wall panel 10 to define a hand gripping section 61, flare slightly as they progress up the side walls 12 and 14 as indicated at 62 and 64 and then curve sharply in towards each other as indicated at 66 and 68 to form shoulders 67 and 69 and extend for a short distance substantially parallelto one another as indicated at 70 and 72. The free ends of'the short sections 70 and 72 as opposite sides of the basket are interconnected by fold lines 74 substantially parallel to the fold lines 16 and 18. The sections 70 and72 between the fold lines 74 and the adjacent shoulders 67 and 69 define neck sections 71, one at each end of the handle 56. These sections 71 are each approximately two thicknesses of the board in length.

Preferably, a reinforcing tape 78 will extend from the notches 32 each of which is in line with the handle member 56 (i.e., symmetrical with respect to the transverse centre line of the basket.) and is sufficiently wide to receive snugly one of neck sections 71 when the basket is erected.

A reinforcingtape 78 in the illustrated arrangement extends across the flap 25, top wall 20, the side wall 12, bottom wall'10, side wall 14, top wall 21 and side flap 26 in overlying relationship with the handle member 56. Thus the tape 78 as illustrated extends the full length of and reinforces the handle member 56.

To set up the basket, the handle member 56 is first lifted from the bottom wall 10 and side walls 12 and 14 and this in turn lifts at least one of the side walls 12 and 14 (say, wall 12) from a position substantially in the plane with the bottom wall 10 to a plane at an angle thereto. With the wall 12 in this position, the flaps 51 are folded in on fold lines 44a, the end walls 40 and 42 are folded on fold lines 36 and 38 and the wall 12 is moved relative to the bottom wall 10 on fold line 16 to position the flaps 51 in face-to-face relationship with the wall 12, with notches 54 encircling the neck section 71 substantially as shown in FIG. 2.

When the flaps 51 have been folded into face-to-face relationship with the side wall 12 and the neck section 7l trapped in the notches 54, the flap 25 may be folded over into overlying relationship with the flaps 51 whereby the top wall overlies the top edge of the flaps 51 and the flap is in face-to-face relationship with the sides of the flaps 51 remote from the wall 12. With the flap 25 folded into this position, the handle 56 is manipulated to move the neck section 71 into the notch 32 whereby the shoulders 67 and 69 engage the inner face of the flap 25 and lock the flap 25 in position thereby locking the wall 12 and flaps 51 together with the handle member 56 in position (see FIGS. 3, 3a and 3b).

Next, the flaps 52 and the wall 14 are moved into face-to-face relationship with notches 54 encircling the neck section 71 adjacent wall 14 in the same manner as the notches 54 on flaps 51 encircled the section 71 adjacent wall 12. The end flap 26 is folded into face-toface relationship with the flaps 52 with the top wall 21 overlying the flaps 52 and the handle 56 is manipulated so that the neck section 71 is received in the notch 32 in flap 26 and the shoulders 67 and 69 engage the face of flap 26 in the same manner the shoulders 67 and 69 on the opposite side of the basket engaged flap 25 thereby locking the basket in erected position.

All of the flaps, walls and handle member are locked in position by cooperation between the neck sections 71 and notches 32 and by engagement of shoulders 67 and 69 against the inner face of flaps 25 and 26 on opposite sides of the notches 32. Thus when the handle is in its uppermost position as shown in the finished basket in FIG. 5, the flaps 25 and 26, end walls and 42, side walls 12 and 14 and handle member 56 are locked in position and collapse of the basket is substantially impossible. However, the basket may be knocked down simply by pushing the handle toward its original position thereby to release the flaps 25 and 26 which may be then unfolded thereby freeing the flaps 51 and 52. The walls 40 and 42 may then be folded on fold lines 36 and 38 respectively to move the flaps 51 and 52 from about the neck sections 71 and the blank may be flattened to its original form.

The finished basket has side walls formed by two thicknesses (i.e. panel 12 and flaps 51 on one side and panel 14 and flaps 52 on the other side) reinforced by a top ridge is formed by the top walls 20 and 21 and side flaps 25 and 26 respectively. This provides a relatively strong basket structure.

The flaps 51 and 52 substantially abut when folded into their erected position and tend to close off the opening form by lifting of the handle member 56 from the side walls 12 and 14. Thus substantially the only hole in the basket is that provided across the bottom 10 where the handle member 56 is lifted therefrom. This hole is relatively narrow and will not permit escape of such fruit as apples or the like for which the basket is primarily intended.

The reinforcing tape 78 provides a longitudinally extending reinforcing for the handle member 56 and extends across the walls 12 and 14 and flaps 26 to ensure adequate strength to the handle. Obviously, this reinforcing tape may be omitted depending on the weight of the material to be carried in the basket and the strength of the board from which the basket is fabricated.

Modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, if staples or adhesive is used to secure the basket in erected position, the notch 32 may be omitted and the flaps 25 and 26 shortened accordingly. Also where the ends of flaps 51 or 52 are not intended to at least partially cover the holes left in the side walls 12 and 14 when the handle 56 is removed therefrom the flaps 51 and 52 may be shortened and the notches 54 eliminated. 1

I claim:

1. A basket comprising a bottom wall, a pair of side walls integrally connected one to each side of said bottom wall, a handle integrally foldably connected at each of its opposite ends to respective of said side walls, said handle being formed in said bottom and said side walls by a pair of lines of severence extending across said bottom wall and part way up each of said side walls, end walls foldably integrally connected to opposite ends of said bottom walls, and flaps integrally foldably connected one at each side edge of said end walls and foldable into face to face relationship with said side walls on respective sides of said basket, a pair of side flaps, means connecting one of said side flaps to each of said side walls along the edges thereof remote from their respective foldable connections to said bottom wall, each of said side flaps folded inwardly and overlying a pair of said end flaps positioned in face to face relationship with the side wall to which said side flap is connected thereby trapping a pair of said end flaps between each of said side flaps and its respective side wall, said side flaps having free edges at least a portion of which is positioned immediately above the said foldable connection between the end of said handle and the side wall to which said side flap is connected.

2. A basket as defined in claim 1 further comprising a notch in each of said side flaps, a neck section at each end of said handle and a pair of shoulders at one end of each of said neck sections, said neck sections positioned in said notches in the adjacent of said side flaps and said shoulders engaging a facevof said adjacent of said side flaps to lock said basket in erected position.

3. A basket as defined in claim 2 further comprising a second set of notches each notch of said second set of notches being formed on an end of each of said end flaps remote from its connection to its respective end wall, said notches of said second set of notches in a pair of said end flaps on one side of said basket embracing said neck section on said one side of said basket.

4. A basket as defined in claim 3 wherein said pair of lines of severence are located on opposite sides of the transverse centre line of said basket.

5. A basket as defined in claim 4 further comprising a reinforcing tape extending along said handle from one side of said basket to the other.

6. A basket as defined in claim 1 wherein said means connecting said side flaps to said side walls includes a top wall. I

7. A basket as defined in claim 4 wherein said means connecting said side flaps to said side walls includes a top wall.

8. A basket forming blank comprising a bottom wall panel, a pair of side wall panels integrally foldably connected one to each sideof said bottom wall panel, a pair of lines of severage extending across said bottom wall panel. and partway across each of said side wall panels, said lines of severage defining opposite side edges of a handle, each of said opposite ends of said handle being integrally foldably connected one to each of said side wall panels, said lines of severance being symetricallypositioned on opposite sides of the transverse center line of said bottom and sidewall panels, a pair of side flaps each connecting one of said side flaps to. each of said side wall panels along the edge thereof 6 ately over said foldable connection between the end of said handle and its respective side wall panel when said blank is erected. 

1. A basket comprising a bottom wall, a pair of side walls integrally connected one to each side of said bottom wall, a handle integrally foldably connected at each of its opposite ends to respective of said side walls, said handle being formed in said bottom and said side walls by a pair of lines of severence extending across said bottom wall and part way up each of said side walls, end walls foldably integrally connected to opposite ends of said bottom walls, and flaps integrally foldably connected one at each side edge of said end walls and foldable into face to face relationship with said side walls on respective sides of said basket, a pair of side flaps, means connecting one of said side flaps to each of said side walls along the edges thEreof remote from their respective foldable connections to said bottom wall, each of said side flaps folded inwardly and overlying a pair of said end flaps positioned in face to face relationship with the side wall to which said side flap is connected thereby trapping a pair of said end flaps between each of said side flaps and its respective side wall, said side flaps having free edges at least a portion of which is positioned immediately above the said foldable connection between the end of said handle and the side wall to which said side flap is connected.
 2. A basket as defined in claim 1 further comprising a notch in each of said side flaps, a neck section at each end of said handle and a pair of shoulders at one end of each of said neck sections, said neck sections positioned in said notches in the adjacent of said side flaps and said shoulders engaging a face of said adjacent of said side flaps to lock said basket in erected position.
 3. A basket as defined in claim 2 further comprising a second set of notches each notch of said second set of notches being formed on an end of each of said end flaps remote from its connection to its respective end wall, said notches of said second set of notches in a pair of said end flaps on one side of said basket embracing said neck section on said one side of said basket.
 4. A basket as defined in claim 3 wherein said pair of lines of severence are located on opposite sides of the transverse centre line of said basket.
 5. A basket as defined in claim 4 further comprising a reinforcing tape extending along said handle from one side of said basket to the other.
 6. A basket as defined in claim 1 wherein said means connecting said side flaps to said side walls includes a top wall.
 7. A basket as defined in claim 4 wherein said means connecting said side flaps to said side walls includes a top wall.
 8. A basket forming blank comprising a bottom wall panel, a pair of side wall panels integrally foldably connected one to each side of said bottom wall panel, a pair of lines of severage extending across said bottom wall panel and partway across each of said side wall panels, said lines of severage defining opposite side edges of a handle, each of said opposite ends of said handle being integrally foldably connected one to each of said side wall panels, said lines of severance being symetrically positioned on opposite sides of the transverse center line of said bottom and side wall panels, a pair of side flaps each connecting one of said side flaps to each of said side wall panels along the edge thereof remote from their respective foldably connections with said bottom wall panel, said side flaps being dimensions so that a portion of the free edge thereof remote from said foldable connection between each said flap and its respective side wall panel may be positioned immediately over said foldable connection between the end of said handle and its respective side wall panel when said blank is erected. 